Hi I had a preterm delivery and baby will be in NICU for 2 months,I just wanted to know whether it is possible to start my maternity leave after 2 months of delivery date. When I checked a few blogs,nowhere in law they have mentioned that you have to start at a time period,only about starting early. Please let me know.
From India, Kottayam
From India, Kottayam
There is no restriction on taking full maternity leave after delivery.
Attach documents as proof of pre term delivery and inform your employer and ask for leave with wages.
There should be no issue at all.
From India, Pune
3131Attach documents as proof of pre term delivery and inform your employer and ask for leave with wages.
There should be no issue at all.
From India, Pune
What is the purpose of maternity leave? The basic objective of the Maternity Benefit Act itself is to regulate employment of women for certain period AFTER and BEFORE CHILD BIRTH. As such you cannot come to office from the hospital and work for two months and once the baby is discharged from the incubator, you can take leave. The leave is for taking care of employee's health and not exclusively to take care of the baby. Therefore, you cannot postpone your maternity leave as you wish and no employer can permit you to take any other leave before you start maternity leave.
From India, Kannur
From India, Kannur
If you are covered under ESI, you will get the benefits of the scheme, otherwise you will get the benefits under the Maternity Benefit Act (amended as in 2017). Either way, the amendment in 2017 has increased the period of paid maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks.
Previously, out of the twelve weeks, up to a maximum of 6 weeks could be taken before the date of delivery and the remaining after delivery.
Now, the maximum period of leave before expected date of delivery is 8 weeks and the remaining up to a total of 26 weeks (including the leave taken before delivery) can be taken after delivery.
In your case, since you have probably not availed any maternity leave before the date of delivery as it was preterm, you can avail full 26 weeks paid leave from the date of delivery. Following your delivery, you have to take leave to regain your full health, as Mr. Madhu has so rightly said. Also, during this time, you may have to attend to the baby in the Hospital where the baby is admitted. That is also part of caring for the baby. So don't think about going to work now and taking maternity leave later. In any case, maternity leave starts from the date of delivery, and not from any other date.
If needed, you can extend your maternity leave beyond 26 weeks also. There is a provision for that in the Maternity Benefit Act.
From India, Kolkata
Previously, out of the twelve weeks, up to a maximum of 6 weeks could be taken before the date of delivery and the remaining after delivery.
Now, the maximum period of leave before expected date of delivery is 8 weeks and the remaining up to a total of 26 weeks (including the leave taken before delivery) can be taken after delivery.
In your case, since you have probably not availed any maternity leave before the date of delivery as it was preterm, you can avail full 26 weeks paid leave from the date of delivery. Following your delivery, you have to take leave to regain your full health, as Mr. Madhu has so rightly said. Also, during this time, you may have to attend to the baby in the Hospital where the baby is admitted. That is also part of caring for the baby. So don't think about going to work now and taking maternity leave later. In any case, maternity leave starts from the date of delivery, and not from any other date.
If needed, you can extend your maternity leave beyond 26 weeks also. There is a provision for that in the Maternity Benefit Act.
From India, Kolkata
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